Hulk Smash Onto ABC

The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reports "The Incredible Hulk" will be returning to television courtesy of Marvel and ABC. "Hulk is one of two projects that are priorities at Marvel Television, Marvel Studio’s TV division, which has been operating under the radar since Jeph Loeb took the reins at the end of June," they write.

From 1978 to 1982, "The Incredible Hulk" aired on CBS. Starring Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the titular "Hulk," the show followed a structure similar to "The Fugitive," where the drifting Banner would come to a new town only to have an appearance by the Hulk shatter his hopes for normalcy. The series' winsome piano-dominated theme tune appeared in the 2008 film "The Incredible Hulk" and was parodied on "Family Guy". Both Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo have professed on fondness for the series and Bixby's take on the character.

It is unknown at this time if the new ABC series will follow the original show's structure or update the concept for the more modern serialized storytelling methods of today's scripted dramas. What is known is a list of other Marvel properties ABC is interested in turning into TV programs. The Heat Vision article singles out "Cloak and Dagger" as another Marvel concept ABC is keen to develop.

The Heat Vision list also contains such titles as "Heroes for Hire", "Ka-Zar", and "The Punisher". That last one is suggested as a cable offering. According to the article, "Marvel’s TV division wants to take things slow, according to insiders, focusing on one or two shows, making sure they are the best they can be and establishing a quality brand before moving forward." Loeb recently told MTV News the balance between live action and animated Marvel TV projects would always skew toward animation, but gave no indication of "The Incredible Hulk" being prepped for series treatment.